Forfar Athletic v Livingston – match preview

The ‘Loons’ get their competitive season up and running on Saturday afternoon when they entertain Livingston in the Premier Sports Cup at the Alpha Projects Stadium @ Station Park.

The home side will obviously go into the fixture as underdogs, their championship opponents having apparently re-grouped following relegation from the Premiership which was confirmed in mid May.

In fact David Martindale’s side are amongst the favourites to make what would be a swift return to the top flight in the season ahead.

The Athies have had three pre-season fixtures, victories recorded in all, with vital game time afforded to what is still a limited squad numbers wise.

In fact despite getting three more signings confirmed over the past few days, manager Ray McKinnon still hopes to add another new face prior to kick-off tomorrow.

Ray has been delighted by the attitude and application shown by his players both on the training field and on match days over the past four weeks.

However like many managers at a similar level, he has been frustrated by just not quite managing to get a few signing targets fixed up, especially after lengthy time consuming negotiations.

He is however delighted with his new recruits.   The experienced Ross MacLean, Blair Malcolm and Mitch Taylor were early on the scene back in June and they have been joined over the past week by the return of Finn Robson to supporters delight, the youthful Nathan Cannon and Bayley Klimionek and Scott Reekie a player who despite being only 24 years of age has packed a fair amount of football at various levels of the senior game into his career to date.

However to compound matters a couple of players have picked up wee niggles already and will require late fitness checks on Saturday.

Nevertheless the squad which will obviously include familiar faces remaining from last season, all of whom played a prominent part in the resurgence of form and results in the second half of the campaign will be keen to give a good account of themselves in the upcoming four tough Group E fixtures that face them over the next eleven days.

The full time ‘Livi Lions’ have to date brought in eleven new faces over the summer, seven of them from clubs of different stature south of the border, while from nearer home Ryan McGowan moved from the Perth Saints, Robbie Muirhead from Morton and Lewis Smith and Andy Winter from Hamilton Accies.

The West Lothian outfit have also the advantage of five pre-season matches under their ‘belt’ with as is often the case in these fixtures mixed levels of performance according to reports as well as results.

They are the top seeds in the group however playing against a home side whose fifth seed spot was always going to lead to a tough four game programme and that is indeed the case for Ray and his squad.

A reminder to supporters that the rules for the group stage of the League Cup as many still refer to it have not changed.  

Three points for a win, one point apiece for a draw at the end of the ninety minutes.   However if the scores are level at this juncture, a penalty shoot-out will take place with a bonus point awarded to the winner.

Stewart Luke will be the man in the middle for tomorrow’s match.

Admission prices for all ties in Group ‘E’ are as follows;-

Adults £12

Concessions (at Station Park – 65 & over/Under 17’s) £8

Under 12’s £1

Payment by cash at the turnstiles only.

Forfar Athletic season tickets are not valid for this fixture.

The 1984 Lounge at the ground will be open to all supporterson Saturday from 1p.m. till kick-off and for approximately one hour after the final whistle.

The other group fixture scheduled for Saturday sees Spartans entertain Dunfermline Athletic in the Capital City, Cove Rangers the odd team out.

A footnote to ‘Loons’ fans – We head to East End Park on Tuesday evening of next week, match day two at the group stage to meet Dunfermline Athletic.   Admission to this game is by ticket only.   See the  ‘Pars’ website for full details.